Virginia Senate approves runoff elections in statewide races

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Virginia Senate has voted to require runoff elections in statewide races when no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the total votes cast. The measure sponsored by Sen. Charles Carrico, a Grayson County Republican, would apply to elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and the state’s two U.S. Senate seats. When there is no majority, a runoff would be held between the two highest vote-getters. Had the measure been in effect in 2013, it would have forced a runoff in the governor’s race between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli. McAuliffe won the election with less than 48 percent of the vote. The Republican-controlled Senate passed Carrico’s bill on a largely party-line 22-16 vote. It now goes to the House of Delegates.